By Uche Mbah
78 years old Kabir Muhammed, a brother to the Secretary of the Katsina State government, Dr. Muhammed Inuwa, has been released by his abductors.
This is as they also invaded the Katsina College of Education, Dutsinma, and abducted the three sons of the Deputy Provost. Reports say four heavily armed bandits stormed the College on September 6, around 11.30pm, broke into the home of Dr. Isma’ll Ado Funtua, and abducted his three sons.
Reports indicate that the Katsina SSG’s elder brother may have been released on a trade off as the leaders of the abductors was known to security agencies, who, sources said, also abducted the father of the ring leader and sent a message to the abductors that the father of their leader was abducted.
Muhammed was abducted Wednesday while working on his farm in Damsu Council Area of Katsina state, President Buhari’s home state.
Only recently, a retired top Security officer, had alleged that the sponsors of Boko Haram are known, and belong to the highest places in the country, including the National Assembly and even the Presidency.
Recently, also, reports showed that the United States Government said it would expose the names of Boko Haram sponsors.
Coincidentally, there appears to be more positive activities in the fight against terrorists after the said US statement. Almost soon after, the Federal Government wrote the Telecom companies through the Nigerian Communications Commission, and asked them to shut down Telecom activities in Zamfara state.
The Companies complied, resulting in network downing in the State and other neighboring states.
Unfortunately, this has an adverse effect that parents of kidnapped students, and other relatives of kidnapped victims can no longer communicate with their abductors, thereby keeping them in the dark.
The brighter side is that the abductors cannot negotiate again for ransom, unless they leave the zone.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Secretary to the Katsina State Government, Kabir Yar’Adua, has confirmed the release of his brother, saying that no dime was paid as ransom. It was learnt that the abductors capitulated when their informers were arrested including the father of the ring leader, who was released in exchange for the abducted.
Sceptics believe that if the abductee was an ordinary person, the release could not have been this quick.
